PROCESS_REFLIST allows you to mark the copy of the data item in the cache structure as recently referenced. If you are using a local cache copy of the data item, but are not referencing the data item in the cache structure, the system might be more likely to consider resources for the data item in the cache structure as eligible for reclaim. When the system reclaims data item resources, the system invalidates the local cache copy of the data item. If you are using the local cache copy of the data item, but are not referencing the data item in the cache structure, you need to continue to issue the IXLVECTR macro to test the validity of the data item in your local cache while you are using it.

To avoid the reclaiming of resources in the cache structure for a data item that you are referencing in your local cache but not in the cache structure itself, you can use PROCESS_REFLIST to mark the data item as recently referenced. As a result, the system is less likely to reclaim the resources for the data item. PROCESS_REFLIST allows you to process multiple data items at the same time. You can keep a record of the data items that you are using in your local cache buffers, and, at certain intervals, or once you have collected a certain number of data item names in a list, pass the list to the PROCESS_REFLIST request.